It's possible the Patriots have been shopping QB Mac Jones, but not likely. (AP photo)

The rumor mill was working overtime on Tuesday with an internet report that the New England Patriots have been actively shopping Mac Jones.

And, on the flip side, there were reports that the Patriots have not shopped Jones at all.

First, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio posted a story, citing an unnamed source, that amidst unrest between Patriots coach Bill Belichick and Mac Jones – due mainly to Jones reportedly seeking help with the Patriots offense from the University of Alabama coaching staff – that Belichick has “shopped Jones to multiple teams” during this offseason.

The source told Florio that among teams the Patriots had spoken to included the Raiders, Texans, Buccaneers and Commanders.

However, MassLive reported that the Raiders and Bucs have denied speaking to the Patriots about Jones. In fact, the Raiders have reportedly signed former Patriots backup quarterback Brian Hoyer to a deal, and they already have former Patriot Jimmy Garoppolo in the fold.

And the Bucs recently signed free agent QB Baker Mayfield to presumably be their starter going forward.

Also possibly negating the PFT report is the fact Patriots owner Robert Kraft said last week at the owners meetings that he is “a big fan” of Jones, despite Jones obvious slip in his second season.

Kraft has blamed that on the failed experiment of having Matt Patricia and Joe Judge run the offense in the aftermath of Josh McDaniels’ departure to coach the Raiders.

“He quarterbacked in his rookie season and did a very fine job, I thought,” Kraft said last week. “We made the playoffs. I think we experimented with some things last year that frankly didn’t work when it came to him, in my opinion.”

Still, Belichick has been lukewarm at best when asked about Jones, first saying at the end of the season when asked if Jones was his starter going forward that he has “proven he can play in this league” and last week that basically everyone will get a chance to play before the regular season and try to earn a job, and that includes the quarterbacks.

But if the Patriots were to try to deal Jones, one would think they would have a ready-made replacement in the works other than current backup Bailey Zappe. That might mean drafting a QB, but it’s doubtful one they would want would be available at No. 14, where they pick. And it’s unlikely a team above that spot trading for Jones would surrender their spot in the first round, based on Jones’ season last year.

Also, the Patriots brought in former Alabama assistant Bill O’Brien as the new offensive coordinator, and he has likely already begun to build an offense around Jones. Jones is on a team-friendly slotted rookie deal with two years left before the Patriots have to decided to pick up his fifth year option at a higher price.

It’s more likely the Patriots would keep Jones and build around him, hoping better talent and a revamped, more capably coached offensive system would get the former Alabama QB back on track.